₦airaland Forum

VincenzoZhuxu:
Hope i am not late ooh....but who is in for a chill bottle of origin and nice one op....

*winks*

I want a chilled glass of Hollandia Yoghurt.

gstelly:
almost made the suggestion, thanks alot

Lol... you're most welcome

Happy Sunday!
Due to popular demand, I will try and upload the story twice in a week.
Have a favoured week ahead.
*hugs&kisses*

Oluwatimi2000:
I'm glued to my phone anticipating

*smiling*

gstelly:
Nice story, just hope you can upload everything in okada, the weekend wait is too much

Not too worry, I will speed up the editing, so that I can upload it on Bambooks, Okadabooks and other sites...

You won't need to wait for too long.

Vulcanheph:
Nice story... I hope it gets completed cus most nairaland writers always leave stories uncompleted.

Go to the beginning of the thread and read my terms and conditions.

Opeade939:
This is a nice story.....Op Well-done.

Thanksssss

ghostwritter:
Good to see someone finally caught my interest with a nice story as this after a long time. Kudos sister.

I appreciate *winks*

CHAPTER 3

She walked out of the hostel in slow strained steps. She didn’t sleep well that night. She had bowel movements till day break. She was perfectly fine earlier the other day. She didn’t understand why her system turned upside down that night. She lifted her eyes and saw one of her roommates afar off. The girl looked as if she bathed in mud. Her shoes and bag were in one hand, while she used the other to support her mobility.

Ejiro mustered strength and quickened her steps. “Senami, Senami what happened to you?”

The girl halted and began to cry upon seeing a friendly face.

“Where is everybody?” Ejiro looked left, then right.

“I don’t know,” Senami sobbed. Her multi-coloured braids had turned red with mud too.

Her heart beats quickened. “What happened?”

“Some… some of the guys at the party started acting crazy all of a sudden. I think they were on weed or something worse. They grabbed some of the girls and began to rape them. A fight later broke out between two factions, boys from our school and those elsewhere.”

“My God!” Ejiro covered her mouth with a hand.

“Police men came from nowhere. They arrested some of our students. I… I ran. I lost contact with Cecy and Adaobi. I don’t know where they are.”

“Hey! Jesus oooo!” She placed both hands on her head.

“Your sister’s dream came to pass…” Senami locked gazes with her roommate. “Ejiro, your sister is a witch!”

She shook her head in disagreement. “She is not…”

Senami eyed her. “Then how… how did she know what was going to happen?”

Ejiro swallowed spittle. She had no answer for the girl. “Come, let’s get you cleaned up,” she helped her into the building.

People gave them curious looks as they climbed up the stairs, down the hallway to their room.

***

Rukevwe and Ejiro went home for the weekend as usual. They dropped their bags in their room and went to meet their father in his chemist shop.

“What are you two doing back home?” the man eyed his daughters.

The girls shared a glance.

“I thought I made it clear that you should both stay back at school until you’re done with your examinations?” Oghenekaro looked from one child to the other.

Ejiro scratched an itchy spot on her scalp. “Ehn… dad. I need money for my project.”

He eyed his older daughter. “What stopped you from calling? Why must you come home?”

“I also need money for books…”

He glared at Rukevwe. “Do you think money grow on trees?”

She avoided his gaze and folded her hands across her chest.

“I want this to be the last time you will both come home because of some flimsy reason. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir,” they murmured.

The man hissed and turned his attention to the television in the shop. “I will see what I can do before you leave on Sunday.”

Rukevwe beamed. “Thanks sir.”

“Thank you, daddy,” Ejiro gave him a quick hug and ran out.

Rukevwe chuckled and ran after her sister.
The man couldn’t help but smile.

The girls headed to their mother’s shop and met her entertaining a fair skinned lady seated beside their elder brother.

“You two are back!” Eru eyed his sisters.

“Leave them be,” Itoro cleared a bench so the girls could sit down.

“I turned twenty-two some days back and you didn’t bother to send me anything,” Ejiro eyed him.

“Oh… really? Are you twenty-two already?” he teased her.

Ejiro hissed and picked up a fashion magazine from the pile on the table.

“Ehn… don’t worry. I will credit your account before you go back to school on Sunday.”

Ejiro tried not to smile, but her eyes glowed with satisfaction.

“Adaeze, meet my two troublesome sisters, Ejiro and Rukevwe,” Eru turned to the fair lady.

The lady smiled at the girls. “Hello.”

“Hi,” the girls responded.

Eru placed a hand over her shoulder. “Adaeze is my fiancée.”

Ejiro and Rukevwe stared at her in shock and admiration.

“Wow! She is beautiful,” Ejiro winked at her brother.

The lady blushed.

“What do you expect?” Eru grinned with pride.

Rukevwe sized up the lady and smiled. Adaeze was indeed a pretty woman. Suddenly, the shop faded from her line of sight and something sinister flashed through her mind’s eye. She saw herself standing in the midst of a commotion. People were running helter skelter. Someone pushed her, she fell down and realized that she was standing over dozens of dead bodies. The bodies were littered everywhere!

She sucked in breath, and the moment she blinked, the frightful vision cleared.

“Are you okay?” Ejiro eyed her younger sister.

Rukevwe blinked again and met her worried gaze.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

She opened her mouth, but no words came out. How was she going to explain what she just saw? She didn’t even understand it. She couldn’t fathom what it all meant. She swallowed hard and directed her gaze at Adaeze.

The fair lady was looking at her brother as he shared their introduction ceremony plans with their mother. He wanted the event on his twenty-sixth birthday, which was in the first week of December.

***

Oghenekaro and Itoro ate their dinner and discussed their children one after the other. They were both excited because their first son, Eru, was ready to settle down. The boy got a good job recently and he was planning to move into a one-bedroom flat immediately after his introduction ceremony.

“It is indeed good to wait on God,” Itoro swallowed the food in her mouth.

“Yes… yes it is. Eru waited and God gave him a good job, plus a beautiful and befitting woman to marry.”

Itoro chuckled. “The girl is well mannered.”

“Of course. She was trained well,” he took a drink from the glass of cold water.

“Ochuko’s job is also good…”

“Ehn… but not as versatile as Eru’s work place,” he cut in and dipped a morsel of yellow garri into the hot soup.

Itoro shrugged. “At least he has a job now.”

Her husband nodded. “I remember those days when they would both leave the house with their CVs and return home tired, sad and depressed.”

She shook her head. “Those days are thankfully over.”

“Ejiro said she is almost done with her project.”

She nodded her head. “Yes, she asked me for some money to print some things.”

“Again?” he chewed his food.

She raised an eyebrow. “Again? As in how?”

He hissed and licked his soup stained fingers. “That girl also asked me for money.”

Itoro started to laugh.

“I cannot wait for her convocation day.”

She laughed harder.

“I will be so free,” he began to lick the empty bowl.

“We are not free yet. Rukevwe is still in 200 level.”

“Hmmm…” he washed his hands in the of clean water.

Itoro remembered the nightmare that became a reality. They had been shaken beyond comprehension. They were not even sure if it was a gift or a one-off thing.

“Has she had another dream recently?”

She met her husband’s expectant stare. She began to shake her head. “I don’t think so.”

He sighed. “God will help us.”

“He has helped us already,” she cleared the table and carried the empty bowls to the kitchen.

***

Rukevwe woke up suddenly and jumped down from her bed. She switched on the lights, ran to her roommates’ beds, one after the other, and woke them up.

“What sort of nonsense is this now?” Uloma opened her eyes and yelled when the bright light blinded her vision.

“Next year, I will make sure that I don’t end up with these type of uncultured, ill-mannered and wicked girls,” she felt like crying. She hated being disturbed whenever she was asleep.

“We must leave now!” Rukevwe rushed to the door and unlocked it.

Gbemisola stared at her, from weaved hair covered up with a brown net, to the wrapper hanging over her cotton night-wear, to her bare feet. She began to wonder if the girl had gone mad.

“What is she blabbing about?” Adiza yawned and sat up.

“Get up! Let’s go! Now!” She flung the door open.

Gbemisola got down from the bed and walked up to her. “Are you okay? What is going on?”

She looked straight at the girl. “The hostel will catch fire. It will blow up. People are going to die,” she trembled as she spoke.

Gbemisola blinked at her. She opened her mouth, but she couldn’t utter a word.

Adiza clapped her hands and started to laugh. “I think she is so drunk.”

Uloma shook her head. “She is not drunk. She is on weed or something worse,” she hissed and lay back on her bed.

Rukevwe pulled at her roommate’s hands. “Let’s go! Let us go.”

“Easy, easy girl,” Gbemisola backed away from her. “How did you know that the hostel is going to catch fire?”

Her eyes darted about. “I… I had a dream.”

“Hey! Jesus ooooo. What kind of roommate do I have?” Uloma turned on her side. “Rukevwe, when did you become Joseph in the bible? Eh… Josephine the dreamer,” she started to laugh.

Rukevwe blinked back the tears threatening to surge from her eyes. “This building was caught in flames. I saw a very big inferno,” she noticed that they were staring at her as if she had lost her mind. “We are not safe. We are not… I am going to get my sister,” she turned around and ran off.

“That girl has started smoking something,” Adiza felt sorry for her roommate.

“Please shut the door, Gbemisola. I sprayed this room yesterday. Don’t let those vampire mosquitoes return,” Uloma adjusted her pillow.

“What… what if it is true?” Gbemisola whispered.

“You too?” Adiza started to laugh.

Gbemisola returned to her bed, slipped into a pair of flipflops, picked up a wrapper and headed out.

“Please shut that door,” Uloma called after her.

She hissed and slammed the door behind her.

“Crazy people,” Uloma covered herself with her blanket.

Gbemisola walked into Ejiro’s room just in time to see Rukevwe pulling at her sister’s hand, urging her to hurry. While Ejiro’s roommates were cursing her for waking them up in the middle of the night.

“If she says the building will catch fire, I believe her,” Semani jumped down from the bed. The party she attended some weeks was still fresh in her memory.

“All of you should get out!” Cecy growled. A sudden headache attacked her due to the light coming from the bulb on the ceiling, at the center of the room.

“Biko, oya, make una carry your madness and waka!” Adaobi yelled.

Ejro, Rukevwe, Semani and Gbemisola hurried out of the room, ran down the hallway and scurried down the stairs.

They went to the hostel security lodge and intimated them that the building was about to catch fire. The officers ordered them to return to their rooms, but the girls refused and stood outside the building.

“We need to start shouting,” Rukevwe stared at the dark blue sky.

Ejiro glanced at her sister and yawned. “Why?”

“If we shout, we might be able to wake some other girls,” she placed a hand on her hips.

Ejiro glanced at her roommate. Senami shrugged. “Maybe some girls might wake up and come out.”

“Hellooooooo! Everybody come out of your rooms!” Gbemisola started to shout.

Rukevwe joined her. “The building is going to catch fire any moment from now!”

“Helloooooo!” Ejiro started to scream too.
Senami yelled. “Everybody come ooooouuuut!”

Some of the hostel security officers came out of their lodge.

“Hey!”

“Hey! Stoooopit!”

“I thought I told you girls to go back to your rooms.”

“The building is going to catch fire…”

“Shut up!” a security officer waved a baton at Rukevwe.

Some of the female students in the hostel came out of their rooms and joined the girls outside. They had no idea what was going on, but the fire alarm was enough to get them out of their beds. Others peeped through their windows to view the commotion outside, while the rest remained in beds.

Suddenly, there was an explosion. Huge flames burst from the mid-section of the building. Many of the female standing with Rukevwe and her sister looked on in shock. The hostel security guards were also very afraid and confused. One of them ran off to get help. The officer hoped that the fire service in the school has water in their tank.

The students on the ground floor ran out of their rooms and trooped out of the building. Many got injured in the stampede. The female students on the first were also able to escape the mounting inferno. They headed down the smoky stair way, climbing over one another. But the students at the top floor were unlucky. They were all trapped because the fire started on the second floor!

“People are burning on the second floor!” Senami shouted continuously, unable to stop herself.

Gbemisola wrapped her arms around her small body. She trembled as she watch the black smoke hovering over them.

“Who is going to help them? Somebody help them!” some of the female students started to cry.

Ejiro held her sister and watched from a good distance. She couldn’t help but think of what might have happened if she didn’t listen to her sister that night. She looked at the younger girl closely and wondered if God himself had bestowed her with a gift or some kind of power to see things.

Rukevwe could feel her sister’s gaze on her. She was as frightened as she was. She couldn’t believe that everything she saw in the dream that night was happening, faster than she thought.

The school’s fire service arrived an hour later. The fire fighters drove the female students and onlookers away, making sure that everyone stood far away from the burning building.

At about four in the morning, the fire was put out, but the building was a shadow of itself. It looked like something out of a horror movie. The mid-section was totally destroyed and the top floor had caved in, half-way.

The large numbers of injured female students were taken to the school hospital and to the clinics in the environment.

The story continues in a moment.

King2019:
You mean you can actually post the same book on those sites?

Happy new year Shewrites

Happy New Year.

Yes, you can post the same book on all those site.

But on Amazon Kindle, the book or any part of it mustn't be found anywhere else (for free). If it is found for sale on any site, Amazon will agree to sell it.

For example, I can upload Bukky Alakara on Amazon, but they will remove the price tag and allow people to download it for free! Why? Bukky Alakara story can be found all over the net, for free and also for sale.

If you want to sell any book on Amazon, it must be completely for sale. No part of the book must be uploaded for free on any other site.

Hope you understand.

Chixco95:
Don't mention ma
Remember i you that you are my fav writer
I just think that amazon pays better than all the rest considering the fact that they also pay for number of pages read.
God bless you ma'am as you continue to use your story to put a smile on thousands of people face

*hugs*

Chixco95:
Hello ma
I do love and enjoy your stories because they always get me captivated.
I know you use Okada books but can you consider uploading your stories on amazon?

Morning, glad you enjoy my stories.

Aside Okadabooks, I also use draft2digital.com, smashwords.com, bambooks.io, domingobooks.com and litireso.com

I have an Amazon Kindle account too, but I can only upload stories that has never been posted anywhere else. Least they tag it as free (no price tag)

All my stories are all over the net, just google my name and you will see my stories on many blogs.

So, I intend to upload fresh, new stories on Amazon Kindle, stories that have never been uploaded anywhere else... I am currently working on them. I will let everyone know when I do.

Thanks for looking out for me.

PrudySara:
Glad to have you back SheWrites!

I wonder why Ejiro won't listen to her sister even after what happened with their dad.... I love what Rukevwe did.

It's good to be back *winks*

Ann2012:
Ejiro go get sense soon
Thanks for the update ma’am

*winks*

aprilwise:
Fly wey no dey hear word dey follow dead body they enter grave.

Hmmmm...

CHAPTER 2

Rukevwe sat on the mat with her roommates, eating from bowls of semovita and melon soup. She made the meal about thirty minutes ago and decided to share with them.

“Adiza!”

The dark-skinned girl turned in the direction of the stern voice. “What?”

“That is another piece of fish you are eating,” Uloma glared at her.

“What is your own?” she swallowed the food in her mouth, “Look, look, see fish… fish is everywhere,” she pointed at the pieces of dried fish in the soup.

“Do you want to eat them all?” Uloma eyed her and hissed.

Gbemisola shook her head and dipped a lump of semovita into the palm-oil enriched soup. She doubted if she would ever understand the bone of contention between the two. The girls were always at each other’s throat, fighting like they were married to the same man.

Someone came into their room without knocking. They turned towards the door and saw Ejiro, clad in a sleeveless satin night gown. Her room was four doors away from theirs. She waved at them in greeting and concentrated her troubled gaze at her younger sister.

“I know the number of fish that is in this soup,” Rukevwe pointed a warning finger at Adiza.

Gbemisola started to laugh.

“Don’t worry, she isn’t taking any more fish on my watch,” Uloma eyed the girl again.

Adiza hissed and continued to eat.

Rukevwe got to her feet, adjusted the wrapper tied to her chest and approached her sister. "What’s up?” she licked her soup-stained fingers.

Ejiro glanced back at the girls, then grabbed her sister by the elbow and pulled her out.

“What is it?” the sad look on her sister’s face made her nervous.

“Do not scream.”

She blinked several times and swallowed hard. She could sense that there was something troubling the twenty-one-year-old. “What is it?” her voice dropped a notch.

“Promise me that you will not scream,” Ejiro’s voice shook with emotion.

Rukevwe rolled her eyes. “Just tell me. You are getting me worked up already.”

She leaned against the closed wooden door and nodded. “Okay, okay, I will.”

Her heart beats accelerated in anticipation. She hoped everything was okay.

Ejiro breathed in and exhaled loudly. “Mum called. She said dad… she said dad was involved in an accident on Monday evening.”

Her hands flew to her mouth, stifling a shriek. She began to shake her head as several thoughts spilled all over her confused mind.

She gave her sister a warning stare. She hoped the girl wasn’t going to scream. She didn’t want them to attract attention from people walking past them. “On… on his way to the supplier’s deport, the car he boarded had a head-on collision with an on-coming truck.”

Rukevwe’s eyes grew large with trepidation, her breathing came fast and hard, while her heart raced wildly.

“No one… no one in both vehicles survived except dad,” Ejiro wiped the beads of sweat that were gathered on her forehead.

Rukevwe closed her eyes and opened them. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“Mum said he is recuperating in a hospital in the east. One of the nurses found his phone in his pocket while he was in the emergency room. She was the one that called mum this afternoon.”

Rukevwe nodded her head as tears slipped down her dark oval face.

“Mum said she is travelling tomorrow morning. And Eru and Ochuko are leaving with her.”

She dropped her hands and started to sob. “I told him. I told him not to go.”

“I know…I know,” Ejiro pulled the girl close. “Everything is going to be alright. He is alive, let’s just thank God for that,” her thoughts flew to the night her sister had the terrible nightmare.

Rukevwe tried not to make any noise as she wept, in order not to attract attention. She wished her father didn’t travel. She wished he listened to her. She wished for so many things, but she was grateful that he was at least, alive. She closed her eyes and began to thank God for sparing her father’s life.

***

Itoro broke down crying when she saw her husband on the hospital bed. He looked like one of the patients she had seen on her favourite soap opera, Grey Anatomy. His neck was in a cast, his right hand was in a bandage, his left leg was tied to a pole and left hanging, and there were bruises all over him. Different parts of his body were also covered up in cotton wool and plasters. She staggered to his bedside and wept.

“Stop crying. Just thank God that I am still alive,” he placed a hand on her shoulder.

She looked at him with wet blurred eyes. “I am thankful… I am grateful to God,” she sniffled and bit at her lower lip.

Eru and Ochuko held back tears as they stood at a corner, watching their parents.

“No one in the vehicle is alive, not one. Everyone… everyone except me died,” he lamented. “No one… they are all gone,” his eyes smarted with tears.

She pressed her lips together and kept thanking God for sparing her husband’s life.

“Ejiro and Rukevwe, are they aware?” He looked up at his sons.

They both nodded, too distressed to speak.

“They wanted to come along, but I told them to remain in school,” Itoro cleared her throat.

He sighed heavily. “I wish I had listened to her,” he directed his gaze at his wife. “She told me, she warned me not to travel,” tears fell down from his dark round face. “Why didn’t I listen to Rukevwe?”

Eru and Ochuko exchanged glances. They also remembered the dream their younger sister had.

Itoro squeezed his left hand. “Let us be grateful that you are alive.”

***

Rukevwe sat on the bench facing the lagoon, with her sister. They could see a canoe passing by, though it was a bit far away. They saw a man and two young boys paddling it.

“Mum called this morning.”

“What did she say?” Rukevwe looked at her sister.

“She said dad is complaining about the crutches he was given at the hospital.”

Rukevwe sighed. “What about that supplier of his?”

“The man has brought daddy’s consignment. Eru and Ochuko are managing the chemist shop until dad is better.

She began to laugh. “Those never liked staying in that shop.”

Ejiro laughed louder. “They will suffer. Good for them.”

Rukevwe picked a small stone on the sandy ground and threw it into the water. “I pray that those two will find the kind of jobs that they have been searching for since they graduated from the university.”

Ejiro sighed heavily. “I pray so too. I think they are already tired of job hunting.”

“Who wouldn’t be?” she threw another stone into the water.

“I hope I will find a job easily after my service year. I don’t want to suffer like Eru and Ochuko.”

“Me too.”

The girls fell silent.

“I can’t wait for this our second semester exam to finish,” Rukevwe groaned.

Ejiro smiled. “Same here. Summer beckons to me every day.”

“Me too, I will be twenty in a few weeks,” she beamed from ear to ear.

“So, you want to be forming big girl, now abi?”

She eyed her sister. “Aren’t I a big girl before?”

Ejiro laughed aloud. “Who dash monkey banana?”

“The baboon.”

“You dey craze. You no well at all. Eh be like say all the books wey you dey read don make your head kolo.”

“Na you I take resemble, na.”

“You and who?”

“Who else?”

The two laughed harder till their stomachs hurt.
“I am going to call mum.”

“Why?” Ejiro raised an eyebrow.

“I need to ask her to bake me a birthday cake.”

“Hmmm… after all the hospital expenses, I wish you good luck.”

“Have a little faith dear sister.”

“I hear you,” she glanced at her wrist watch. “Got to run babe.”

“Where to?”

“None of your business…” she got up and headed towards the exit.

Rukevwe leaned against the stony bench and smiled. She loved coming to the lagoon front whenever she was less busy. The place had a serene feel, especially when it wasn’t besieged by a crowd of students.

***

She turned and tossed, and turned again. Her breathing began fast and ragged as she broke out in cold sweat. She turned on her side, then laid on her back. Seconds later, she opened her eyes and started to scream her lungs out.
Someone switched on the lights. Soon a chorus of murmurings followed.

“Are you alright?”

Rukevwe sat up and saw Gbemisola staring at her, but she couldn’t respond. What she saw in her dreams replayed in her mind like a video tape, rendering her speechless.

“Abeg switch off that light!” Uloma growled.

“Please, please, keep your voice down,” Adiza hissed and turned on her side.

“I hope you are not referring to me?” Uloma yelled.

“Who else is shouting? An animal?”

“You are mad!” Uloma threw away her wrapper and sat up.

“You are very stupid!” Adiza turned on her back.
Gbemisola switched off the lights and returned to bed. She placed a pillow over her head in order to drain the barking voices.

“It is like they have unscrewed some nuts and bolts in your brain.”

“You are the one that is barking like a dog with rabbis.”

“If you continue like this, you will end up at a mental hospital.”

“Oh really? Before that happens, you would have been confined in a morgue!”

Rukevwe sat up and got down from the bed. She found her slippers, pulled at the wrapper on the bed and tied it across her chest. She ignored her bickering roommates and headed out. She walked to her sister’s room and knocked. One of the girls opened the door and let her in. None of them were asleep.

She found her sister standing by a big size mirror nailed to the wardrobe, brushing her short razor cut weave-on. She was dressed in a knee-length silver sequins short-sleeve dress. Her roommates were seated on their beds, making up their faces and putting finishing touches to their attires.

“What are you doing awake by this time?” Ejiro saw her sister standing by the door way.

“Where are you going?” she stepped into the room.

She dropped the brush on the table and walked past her.

“I was asleep, but I woke up, and … and I had a nightmare,” she whispered the last word.

Ejiro sat on her bed and stared at her sister.

“I saw you at a party. I saw girls being raped, a fight broke out and the police got involved.”

The girl whose bedspace was right above Ejiro’s own started to laugh. “Your sister has a very wild imagination.”

Rukevwe looked up at her, then back at her sister. “Don’t go…”

Ejiro gave her sister a confident smile. “Don’t worry, I will be fine. The party is in a hall adjacent to the school’s back gate. We are not going to a strange place.”

“Why don’t you dress up and join us?” the girl winked at Rukevwe.

She ignored her sister’s roommate and sat on the bed. “I am scared. What I saw in the dream was…”

“I will be fine!” Ejiro pointed at the doorway. “Go back to room.”

“You have just started a new session in school. This is the beginning of your fourth year for Pete’s sake. And you think partying at this time is wise?”

The other girls stopped what they were doing. All eyes fell on Ejiro.

“Oya, biko, leave my room,” she got to her feet and pulled the younger girl to her feet.

Rukevwe thought of what to say. She needed to convince her sister not to go to the party. “What about your faith in Christ? What goes on at such parties? Drunkenness, lewd talk, unholy dancing…”

“I don’t drink, neither do I smoke. I am going to relax with friends. There is nothing wrong with that.”

Rukevwe rolled her eyes. “Yeah right, it always starts that way.”

Ejiro pushed her towards the door. “Bye, bye. Oya waka. Dey go, dey go. Dey go now!”

She took a few steps forward and stopped at the doorway. She watched her sister, who brought out a pair of black high heeled shoes from her luggage. Rukevwe also noticed the opened can of malt beside her sister’s phone. An idea popped in her mind. She looked around quickly, making sure that no one was watching her. She returned to her sister’s bed and began to search for the purse her sister kept her medications. She found it under one of the pillows. Their father always packed a set of anti-malaria drugs, painkillers, anti-cold and fever tablets for them whenever they headed for school. While Ejiro cleaned her shoes, Rukevwe emptied a sachet of Andrews liver salt into the can of malt.

“Are you still drinking this?” she raised the chilled can of malt.

“Give me jor,” Ejiro collected it and downed the content. “I thought I asked you to leave.”

Rukevwe sighed with relief and returned to her room.

“Your sister is a case,” the girl above Ejiro chuckled.

“Cecy, don’t mind her,” she hissed.

“Our ride is here,” one of their roommates ended her call and threw the phone in her pouch. She checked her reflection in the mirror and smoothened her gold wig.

“I am so ready to party,” Cecy climbed down from the bed.

Ejiro kicked her shoes aside and held her tummy with both hands.

“What is it?” Cecy eyed her.

“I don’t feel so good.”

“You shouldn’t have drunk that malt on an empty stomach. I warned you. I told you that when we get to the party, there will be enough food to eat. Then you can drink a whole crate of malt if you so please,” Cecy hissed and walked towards the door.

“Aaah!” the pangs that shot through her made her want to cry.

“Just go to the toilet. Maybe you will feel better when you pass out some waste,” one of her roommates helped her to the door.

“Okay, thank you,” Ejiro glanced at the girl with multi-coloured braids on her head.

“Hurry up,” the girl returned to her bed.

Cecy hissed again as she watched Ejiro heading towards the toilet.

“I cannot wait for her. Our ride is here already,” the girl with the gold wig joined Cecy at the door.

“Let’s go jor. She will hitch a ride with someone else or come on her own,” Cecy walked out of the room.

“Fine, let’s go. It is almost eleven,” the girl with the multi-coloured braids picked up her handbag.

They hurried out of the room and shut the door behind them. They fell into steps with Cecy who was already halfway down the stair-way. When the trio walked out of the building, the male students hanging around whistled and ogled at them as they walked past.

Finished up early.
Let's continue the story.

Missnande:
It's great to be back on NL, this wouldbey a lovely story ma'am!

Yes indeed babes *hugs*

The story continues this weekend. Save the date *winks*

SET APART

Copyright 2021 Serah Iyare

Synopsis

Set apart from birth, Rukevwe's gift grew with age. What should have been a source of joy, became a two-edged sword stuck in her heart, causing more pains than she could ever think of or imagine.

She began to dread falling asleep, night after night, least her eyes were opened to a world that scared the living daylight out of her. A world that made her visualize things she didn't want to see or know about. Her greatest fear was that, whatever she saw always came to pass!

Labelled with names like 'Josephine the dreamer', an unseen brick wall was erected between her and her family.

The weight of the burden of her gift made her begin to wish for freedom from the chains that held her in captivity.

How do one stop a future that was bound to happen?

How do one give back a gift that was freely given?

Is there truly a way out for Rukevwe? Or does she need to learn to live with this special ability, howbeit the brooding catastrophic disaster that awaits them all?

CHAPTER 1

Rukevwe packed a few clothes in the big black handbag. She was leaving school for home that weekend. She and her elder sister returned home twice every month to collect food stuff and allowance from their parents. She was a first-year student in the English department, while her sister was studying Mass Communication. She was in her third year.

“Are you going home?”

She glanced back at one of her roommates who laid on her bed and nodded her head.

“Yes, I am.”

“Please bring enough food stuff,” Adiza sat up. “I don’t know when my father will send me some money.”

Another roommate hissed and eyed Adiza. “When did Rukevwe turn to Father Christmas?” Uloma leaned against the wardrobe.

“Which one be your own, now? Was I talking to you?” Adiza looked the girl up and down and laid back on her bed.

Gbemisola, the fourth girl in the room, shook her head in wonder and continued loosening her hair. She was in no mood to join in the conversation. She was more concerned about the braids she had caried for three full months. She hoped her natural hair was still in good condition.

“Don’t worry. Whatever I bring, I will give you some,” Rukevwe smiled at Adiza.

“Thank you jare, my good friend”, she smiled back at Rukevwe and threw a quick glance at Uloma who hissed again.

Someone knocked and pushed the door open. A tall dark lady walked in, clad in a short sleeve lacy white blouse, complimented by a blue jean and a pair of white sneakers. A big red handbag was strapped to her smooth shoulders.

“Are you ready?” her eyes fell on Rukevwe.

She picked up her black bag and looked up at her elder sister. “Yes, I am.”

Ejiro sighed with relief and noticed her younger sister’s roommates staring at her. “Hello girls.”

“Hello,” they chorused.

“Shall we?” She turned her attention back to her sister.

Rukevwe nodded, got to her feet and followed her out of the room.

“I was able to plead with one of my course mates. He will drop us as far as Cele Bust-stop,” Ejiro sauntered down the hall way.

“Cool! It wouldn’t cost us much to get a bus to Yaba,” Rukevwe beamed.

“Exactly.”

They got to the stairs and climbed down.

“Eru told me that dad is travelling to the East on Monday morning.”

“Why?”

“His supplier refused to bring down his consignment to Lagos.”

“Nawa for all dis people sef,” Rukevwe groaned.

“Now, dad has to get his goods himself.”

“I once overheard him telling mum that his chemist shop is almost empty.”

“Do you know that he has paid this particular supplier?”

“Haba! I am beginning to suspect the man. I won’t be surprised if he has spent the money on other things?”

Ejiro grunted and shook her head. “Dad will skin him alive if he dares.”

“He is so in trouble.”

They walked out of Queen Latifat hostel and spotted Ejiro’s course mate. He was seated on the bonnet of his car, obviously waiting for them.


***

Itoro leaned over the table and began to cut the fabrics while her apprentices watched. She heard people talking outside the shop and raised her head when she recognized her children’s voices. Were they back from school? The voices got closer, then Rukevwe and Ejiro walked in with their handbags strapped on their shoulders.

“Mummy, good evening,” the girls chorused.

“Hey! See my omalicha, see my princesses.”

The girls giggled and smiled back at her.

“You two are here again to raid my kitchen, ba?”

“Haba! Mummy,” Rukewve folded her arms across her chest.

“If we don’t, who will?” Ejiro winked the woman.

“Oh really? See me see trouble o. Have you both seen your father?”

They shook their heads.

“His shop is locked,” Rukevwe rested her tired eyes on the fabrics on the table.

Itoro looked towards the window. “Maybe he is in the house.”

“He is probably preparing for his trip,” Ejiro pulled her younger sister by the elbow. “Come, let’s go."

Itoro watched them leave. Their three bedroomed flat was on the ground floor of a two-story building, opposite the building her shop was located. The proximity to home made her work easier. She sighed heavily and returned her attention to the fabric she was cutting.

When Rukevwe and Ejiro walked into their apartment they met their elder brothers in the sitting room watching soccer on the flat screen television.

“Good evening,” the girls said in unison.

“You people are back again,” Eru eyed his younger sisters.

“In our time, we don’t come home at every drop of the hat, you know?” Ochuko scratched an itchy spot on his elbow.

Rukevwe rolled her eyes.

“In your time, you were both so far away that we only see you like once in a blue moon,” Ejiro dropped her bag on a chair.

Rukevwe began to laugh.

“That was why I advised dad not to allow you two to choose schools close to home,” Ochuko faced his elder brother.

“Exactly, the constant raiding of mum’s kitchen and dad’s pockets are the results of schooling close to home,” Eru added.

“Abeg, abeg, leave that thing. It is our time, make we enjoy. Where is dad, sef?” Ejiro made her way out of the sitting room, pulling her bag after her.

“Don’t let your sister influence you,” Ochuko waved a finger at Rukevwe.

“Point taken,” she yawned out loud and headed for the room she shared with her sister.

Eru and Ochuko exchanged glances, shook their heads and returned their attention to the television screen.

***

She tossed and turned, rolled over and tossed around again. She grimaced, eyes shut, breathing heavily, lost in slumber land. Suddenly, she broke out in cold sweat and began to scream.

Ejiro woke up with a start with her heart pounding aggressively against her chest. She sat up and looked around the dark room. She sighted her younger sister at the edge of the bed, curled up in a ball and screaming her lungs out. She leapt towards the girl and shook her into wakefulness.

“Rukevwe, Rukevwe! Rukevwe! Wake up!”

She opened her eyes many seconds later and grabbed her sister’s hands.

“Are you okay?” Ejiro directed her worried gaze at her.

Rukevwe shook her head and began to cry.

“Hey… ssssh. It’s okay…” she drew her closer and wrapped her arms around her. “It is okay. It is just a nightmare.”

“No!” Rukevwe lifted her head, her glassy eyes met her sister’s tired ones. “It wasn’t a nightmare. It was real.”

Ejiro rolled her eyes and yawned.

“Where is daddy?” Rukevwe looked towards the closed door.

“In the room with mum.”

She leapt to her feet and jumped down from the bed.

“Rukevwe! Where are you going?”

She didn’t respond. She unlocked the door and dashed out, clad in her night wear.

Ejiro closed her opened mouth.

What’s wrong with that girl? She mused.

She contemplated whether to follow her or continue her beauty sleep. She had a feeling that her parents might call for her in any moment. She groaned inwardly and dragged her weight off the bed. And in slow tired steps, she walked out of the room.

Rukevwe went into her parents’ room without knocking. She switched on the bedside lamp and sat at the foot of the bed.

“Who in God’s name have the audacity to wake me up at this time?” His hoarse voice filled the room.

Itoro turned on her side, looked at her husband, then sat up when she noticed her youngest daughter. “Who else, but Rukevwe?”

The man pulled himself up to a sitting position. His red eyes sized her up, “What do you want?”
“Don’t go…”

He clenched his teeth and looked at his wife. He was losing his patience. “Rukevwe, what is it?” he glanced back at the girl. “For the love of God, what are you even doing here?”

“Daddy, don’t go,” her eyes became misty with unshed tears.

“Don’t go where? What nonsense are you blabbing?!” He glanced at the alarm clock. It was 2:30 am. “Look at the time for heaven sake!”
Itoro sighed heavily. She doubted if she would be able to sleep again.

Ejiro heard her father’s voice before she entered the room. “She had a nightmare,” she approached the bed.

“Nightmare?” The man hissed and faced his wife. “Are you the one who told them to come home?”

Itoro shook her head.

“These girls better remain in school henceforth until their holidays. I don’t want to see them in this house.”

Ejiro sat beside her sister and gave her head a push. “You see what you have caused?”

Rukevwe ignored her sister and faced her father. “If you go, you will encounter a bad accident.”

Silence filled the room. They all stared at her.
Itoro cleared her throat. “That is why, as Christians, we always commit our ways into God’s hands.”

“Exactly, our coming and going is safe proof,” he added and laid back on the bed.

“Go back to sleep, dear” her mother encouraged her.

“I can’t…” she whispered.

“Ejiro…” he glared at his older daughter, “… match your sister out of this room this minute!” his voice echoed through the walls.

Eru and Ochuko came in, clad in their boxers. They yawned and stretched out their arms.

Ejiro jumped to her feet. She didn’t want her father to transfer aggression at her. “Oya oya… sleeping beauty. Let’s go,” she pulled Rukevwe up to her feet.

“What’s the commotion about?” Eru looked around the room. While watching a movie with his brother, he heard his father shouting.

“Your sister had a nightmare,” Itoro turned to her first child.

Ochuko started to laugh. “Hey… wonders shall never end.”

“I know I heard someone screaming a while ago. I thought it was the movie we were watching,” Eru turned to Ochuko and scratched a spot on his head.

“Daddy…” Rukevwe directed her gaze at her angry father. “Please, don’t travel. It is not safe.”

Silence filled the room.

“Ejiro, what are you people still doing here?” he glared at her.

“Let’s go now!” She grabbed her sister by the shoulder and pushed the girl out of the room.
Eru and Ochuko followed behind them.

Rukewve walked into the room she shared with her sister and sat on the bed. She covered her face with her palms and started to cry. What she saw in the dream was so vivid and so real. She had a feeling that the danger was real. Her father was in danger!

“When you get dreams like that, you pray and cast and bind,” Eru advised her.

“Exactly,” Ochuko added and sat at the foot of the bed.

Ejiro felt sorry for her sister. She wasn’t a fan of nightmares. She sat beside her and pulled her close.

“I saw… I saw…”

“Sssh… it is okay. Whatever you saw, daddy will be fine,” she made an attempt to wipe the girl’s tears.

“If it will make you feel better, let us pray for daddy,” Eru joined them on the bed.

“There is nothing God cannot do,” Ochuko reached out for their hands.

“Oya, bring your hand,” Ejiro eyed her.

They all held hands and said a word of prayer for their father. They prayed against accidents on the journey that he was embarking on and committed his life into God’s hands.

Rukevwe felt a bit relieved, but deep within her, she still felt uneasy.

damis28crown:
i cant miss this lai lai

Hahaha... *winks*

xaviercasmir:
Front seat booked

You're welcome.
Let me serve you a glass of Hollandia Yoghurt and a bowl of hot sweet popcorn

I will be posting the story every weekend, due to my schedule.

There are about 25 chapters in 'Set Apart', once we get to the 20th chapter, I will upload the complete story on bambooks.io

You will be able to read the rest of the story on this site.

Or you can support my ministry by getting your copy on Okadabooks.com, Litireso.com or Domingobooks.com

Thanks.

EzegeNdiigbo:
Xame to ya. Goodluck

:-)

Happy New Year my beautiful people *hugs&kisses*
We will begin a new story this new week by God's grace.
Terms and Conditions applies as usual *winks*

PecLauren:
@shewrites
Thank you very much ma'am
It was a very good read
A beautiful companion for a time. It's just a little disheartening that it has come to an end to what rather feels like 'too soon'...
I am a newbie in the world of writing in general and I'm grateful to have read a piece from you ma with an amazing linguistic content properly juxtaposed.

I learnt a lot from this wholesome literature and its so unfortunate that silver and gold I have not. So I pray this day that your ink will never run dry, and God will increase your finance beyond your comprehension.

Thank you too. I appreciate you.

*hugs*

Congratulations everyone. I appreciate all the voters *hugs*